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Hopkinton to Receive $2.5 million MORE Grant for Sewer Expansion

March 8, 2010

Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) announced today that the Patrick Administration will award the town of Hopkinton with a $2.5 million Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion (MORE) grant to facilitate the connection of Hopkinton’s South Street sewer to a existing sewage-treatment facility in Milford. Increased sewer capacity will enable businesses located in the South Street and Elmwood Park industrial areas, including global biotech giant Lonza, to expand and add jobs.

“This is a terrific example of the state and town working together to find the funding for a worthwhile project, without which we may very well lose companies and jobs in MetroWest and Massachusetts,” stated Senator Spilka, the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “I fought hard for this project, knowing that this is the type of targeted investment the Commonwealth should be making right now. I applaud the town for their persistence in seeing this project to fruition. The expanded capacity for job retention, growth and expansion will help further solidify the region’s economic base.”

“The MORE grant funding will provide much needed sewer infrastructure and capacity on South Street for the long-term benefit of the town’s valued businesses and, indirectly, residences that will be served by the Fruit Street Waste Water Facility,” stated Norman Khumalo, Hopkinton’s Town Manager. “This state funding will allow for the realization of an idea whose time has come. The enhanced sewer capacity will be critical for the expansion of the town’s commercial base and job creation. This project will not have come about without the strong, effective and responsive partnership between the town, Senator Spilka, Representative Dykema, Secretary Bialecki, the Governor’s office, private businesses, as well as the continued cooperation from the town of Milford.”

“The MORE Grant for Hopkinton is an excellent example of the public sector working in unison with the private sector to increase economic activity and jobs in the Commonwealth,” stated Brian Herr, Chair of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen. “We look forward to Lonza’s expansion in town and will certainly assist other businesses hoping to invest in the region.”

Lonza Biologics, Inc., located in Hopkinton, is part of the Swiss-owned Lonza Group and specializes in the production of high quality biotherapeutic products from cell cultures. Lonza Group has over 8,000 employees worldwide and has been a leading participant in the global biotechnology industry since 1980. There are over 300 employees at the Hopkinton location in manufacturing and development.

“We are very pleased with this grant award for the Town,” stated Michael Cicio, Vice President of Operations and Site Manager, New England Operations, Lonza. “This will allow Lonza to take full advantage of the significant investment we have made into our Hopkinton facility and when completed will allow us to better serve our customers. Thank you to Governor Patrick, Senator Spilka, Representative Dykema, Secretary Bialecki, for their continued support of this project.”

Under the terms of a plan agreed upon by Hopkinton and Milford in 2000, Hopkinton will be allowed to send as much as 500,000 gallons of sewage to Milford per day, although they currently have plans for 204,000 per day. In exchange, Hopkinton will provide infrastructure improvements and pay for the cost of treatment of the sewage at a slightly higher rate than Milford users. Equipment upgrades at the Milford plant, providing a number of homes with hook-ups to the town sewer system, and the repaving of Purchase Street are also included in the plan.

To complete the hookup, 60 feet of pipe will be installed along South Street and connected to existing pipe in Milford.

The $2.5M grant will be added towards funds committed by both the town and Lonza to pay for the total project cost of $3.9 million.

Senator Spilka, Governor Deval Patrick and other state and local officials will make a formal presentation to the town at the Lonza site in Hopkinton on Tuesday, March 9 at 10:45 a.m.